Post-canceling machine.



PATENTBD SEPT. 1,1903.

a SHEETS-Smm 1.

J. K. TOLES.

POST CANCELING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED HAB.. 4. 1902,.

N0 IODEL.

PATENTED SEPT. l, 1903.

J. K. TOLBS.

POST GANGELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 4, 1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET- 2. u

NO MODEL,

No. 738,085. PATENTBD SEPT. 1, 1903.

' J. K. TOLES.

POST CANGELING MACHINE;

APPLICATION rILLD MAB. 4, 1902.

No MQDLL. 3 saura-'snm s.

cw -S' ,r/ m a@ 16mm if? ,waff

UNiTEn STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO W'ORLDS POSTAL SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF l/VEST VIRGINIA.

POST-CANCELING MACHINE.

SPECIFCATTLON forming part of Letters PatentNo. 738,085, dated September 1, 1903.

Application filed March 4, 1902. Serial No. 96.576. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JUSTIN KAY TOLES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Post-Canceling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for feeding letters, envelops, or the like from a pile or package and then canceling the stamps thereon or otherwise printing, stamping, or impressing the same; and, as illustrated in my drawings and described in this speciiication, my invention is embraced in a stampcanceling machine, such as is intended for use in post-offices and other places where postage-stamps are to be canceled.

My invention as I have here illustrated it is divided into sections or portions of a complete apparatus for performing the work referred to.

There is, in the iirst place, a suitable stand or frame ineludin g a receiver for the envelops or letters.

There is,in the second place,a feeding mechanism whereby the letters orenvelops are successively and separately fed from a pile or package and in proper manner to be subsequently acted upon by the im pressing or printing device.

There is, in the third place, a printing mechanism'whereby such letters are successively printed or impressed in the desired manner.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanyin g' drawings, wherein- Figure l is a part section with part shown in front elevation. Fig. is a plan view with parts omitted. Fig. il is a section on the line "3 3 of Fig. l. Figs. i, 5, (3 are details.

Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.

A is the standard, on which, through the medium of proper supports A A, is mounted the receiver B. This receiver is of any desired shape and size and position; but, as shown, it has a bottom B and a forward side B`2 and is inclined or tilted. The inclination of this receiver may be secured by tilting' the whole machine toward the left, as shown in Fig. l; but ol' course it is not essential. The drawings do not show the tilting feature, as

this tilting is secured simply by the way in which the machine is supported. At the bottom of this receiver is pivoted on the pin B;1 the fingers B4 B4, which form in this case not only the end or bottom of the receiver, but 5 5 which are carried forward and upwardly turned at B5 to impinge against the lower edge Bi of the side B2 of the receiver, and thus form a gate for what I have called the discharge-way. In this case the discharge-way 6o is that opening or way which is left when the gate-lingers are depressed. The lower edge of the side B2 is cut away at B7, so that a sort of groove or slot is formed as a kind of mouth to such gate. B8 may be a sleeve-like body 65 on the pin BS and to which the fingers BJX may be attached. From it projects downwardly the arm B, the lower end of which is connected by the spring B10 with the adjustable bolt B11 in the frame-piece A', which forms 7o part of the fixed support of the mechanism and is placed below the receiver. This iixed part of the frame-piece A is provided with the cam-slot C, shaped as shown, and through which projects the pin C' from the recipro- 75 eating feeder-bar C2. This feeder has a forwardly-projeeting part pivoted at C3 on the pin or crank C'1 of two-part driving-shaft C5, and by this means it is made to reciprocate back and forth, the pin C sliding in the eam- 8c groove C. Upwardly projecting from the feeder-bar C2 is the block CG, on which is piv oted at CT the feeder C8, provided with the pads CLJ to engage the lower letter in the pile of letters C10. This feeder is adapted to rock on the pin C7 and is adjustably placed in any desired position by means of the setserew C11. There may be two sets of these feeders C9 C9 and their associated parts. They are separated from each other, as indicated in Fig. 2. 9o The block CG supports the feeder, which is shown on the upper part of the drawings in Fig. 2; but the arm C12, projecting laterally from the feed-bar C2, rises into properposition and serves to support the outer or (referring to Fig'. 2) the lower feeder in the same manner that the upper feeder is supported on the block C, The feed-pads CQC are adjustably held in position by the screws C13 C13. As the shaft C is driven the feeder-bar will be re- 10o .feed-bar C2.

eiprocated and its position changed by the cam C, so as to alternately raise and lower the feeder and alternately movethe feeders forward and backward. The movements are timed so that in their forward motion the feeder-pads are in engagement with the last letter in the pile of letters. The feeder-pads are placed so as to come between the long arms of the gate. Upwardly projecting from the feeder-bar C2 is the cam D, opposed to the lower inclined end of a pusher D, which is contained in Jfhe boss D2 and is retracted by the spring D3. These parts are so related that after the feeder has operated to move the lower letter slightly forward, so that its front edge lies in the groove or mouth of the discharge-way, the cam D will engage the face D' and force the plunger against the action of the spring D2 upwardly against the lower letter. The end of this plunger is provided with a roller D4, supported in a yoke D5, which is supported in the boss D2, which is secured upon so as to move with one of the fingers B*l of the gate and is shaped so that it will bear upwardly against this letter without interfering with its forward motion; but since the forward edges of all the letters above the lower one are freeA from the slot or mo uth of the discharge-way the stack or pile of letters above the irst letter will be lifted or pushed away from the slot by means of the pusher acting through the lower letter. As the feed-bar passes forwardly these parts dis-` engage, the pusher is retracted to its normal position, and the lower letter is fed outwardly through the discharge. On one of the fingers B4 of the gate is secured the downwardly-projecting cam-nger E. Pivoted to the frame or some fixed part at E is a dog E2, with an end E3 to engage the finger E and another end E4 in the path of the cam-block E5 on the When the feed-bar moves t0- ward the left in Fig. l, this block E5 will engagethe end E4 of the dog E2 and force its other end, E2, downwardly, and since this end is adapted to engage the finger E it will force .such iinger downwardly, thus bringing the fingers of the gate down and opening the slot B7, so that the discharge-way is formed, as in dicated. These several parts are not intended to be shown accurately in position, and they are capable of adjustment and capable of variation as to size, proportion, and arrangement according to the service to which the device is being put and the needs of its special conditions. As the motion of the feedbar C2.is further continued the end El of the dog E2 will disengage from the block E5 and free the parts, so that by the action of the spring B10 the gate will be forced up and into the position shown in Eig. l.

F is a gear-wheel on and driven bythe shaft C5. It meshes with the gearF, suitably supported in the frame, and this in turn meshes with the pinion F2 on the shaft F2, whereby is driven the lower of the trip-rollers El, which is normally in engagement with the upper trip-roller F5. These trip-rollers may have elastic bands or surfaces and are, like the other parts, suitably mounted on studs proj ectin g from their respective supporting parts. The trip-roller F5 is mounted at FG upon the movably-supported lever or arm F7, which also carries the platen-roller F2. This lever or arm FT is movably or pivotally connected to another movable part or arm, F11, which is pressed toward the printing-roller by means of the spring or other elastic device F12. This spring may be adj ustably attached to the frame-as, forexample, at F12. Thus the entire lever F7, with the rolls F5 and FS, is held downwardly the roll F5 toward F4 and the roll FS toward the printing-roll G. This printing-roll is placed in engagement with the inking-roll G, and it will be suitably supplied with type-as, for example, at the point X- and provided with elastic bands G2 G2 to feed the letter forward. The type, of course, will be in the exterior surface of the roll and any arrangement desired may be used. In the present case l have assumed the existence of type at one point onlyat the point X-or, if not type, a device for canceling stamps and the like. The type, printing, canceling, or other marking device will of course extend the desired length along the periphery of the roll G, and the formation, shape, and extent of such device will depend upon the conditions met with.

On the gear F is a pin J, which is associated with a dog J on the arm J 2 and provided with the hook J 4 and the end J 5, projecting into the path of the pin J. The arm J '2 is pivoted at J6 and provided with the stop-face J 7 to engage the corresponding face JS and is controlled by the spring J 9, whereby the dog is pulled downwardly. The dog is itself con trolled by the spring J 10, which tends to force it upwardly around its pivot.

A hook or engaging part J1l on the end of the arm J 12, which may be rigid with or a part of the arm FT, is adapted to interlock with the. hook J 4. A stop S limits the movement of the arm J 2 in response to the spring J.

The bar or lever F11 is pivoted on the -pin K, and from the outer end of this pin there Aprojects downwardly the arm K, in the lower end of which is= carried the pivot J 5, and a set-screw K2 in the frame-piece A impingcs upon the back of this arm K', whereby the position of the platen-roll can be adjusted and determined within certain limits. The arm K' is rigid with or a part of F, and the stop K2 cooperates with said arm. It is of course evident that the stop may be associated in any other way with the movably-mounted support F11 for arm FT. It is further evident that if said stop is directly associated with F11 the part K could be omitted. The spring J is secured to the projection K3 from the arm K.

L is a spiral spring secured at L to the frame A' and at its lower end to the arm JW,

IOO

IIO

Ile

which it tends to draw upwardly, relieving the platen-roll when the hooks .lV71 J 11 are disengaged.

The action of these parts just described is as follows: XVhen the printing-roll has traveled about to a point where the pin .l engages the end J5 of the dog J, the type or other printing or marking device will be in close proximity to the point where the platen-roll and the printing-roll are to be brought together and the hooks J'l J 11 will be momentarily disengaged. lf no letter is passing through between the trip-rolls, the hooks J 'l .T11 will remain disengaged and the platenroll will remain in the elevated position indicated in Fig. l. Vhen in this operative position, the engagement of the hooks J and J1L is prevented, because of the fact that their engaging parts do not register. at the time indicated a letter is passing through between the trip-rolls, and is therefore forcing the platen-roll FS down upon the printing-roll, the momentary unlocking of the hooks J4 JH will have no effect, for they will immediately reengage, and thus lock the platen-roll FS down upon the printing-roll, the letters being timed so that they will pass in between the platen-roll and printing-roll just before the type come into position. As this motion continues the letter is thrown out and, as previously explained, before the type get around to the platen-roll again the hooks J 4 J l1 will be again disengaged. The spring J9 cooperates with the separated stops J7 Js to allow the platen-roll FS to rise even when the two hooks JL J11 are engaged-at least until the platen-roll has reached its limit of motion. This is to permit the passage of a large, heavy, or thick letter between the platen-roll and the printing-roll while at the same time permitting the trip-roll F5 to descend upon the trip-roll Fl to grip the next letter.

M is a wheel with the handle M and rim M2, which wheel is mounted on the stud M3, which stud is supported on the boss MYL in the frame part A. The inner end M5 of the stud Mi is screw-threaded into the bushing, which is screw-threaded into the box M4 for adjustment. On the outer end of the shaft C5 is mounted'the friction-roll MT, which engages the driving-flange surface MS on the wheel M2, so that when the latter is turned the frictionroll MT is rotated and with it the shaft This constitutes the driving mechanism, though of course it might be greatly varied and could be adapted to be operated by power as well as by hand, as here indicated.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

Broadly considered, the devices hereinbcfore specifically described by reference to the drawings may be more generally deseri bed as follows:

There is in the first place a suitable support, stand, or frame supporting, among other things, a receiver or letter-receiving part, in which the cnvclops or letters are stacked.

If, however, y

This receiver is preferably, though of course not necessarily, inclined, and is thus adapted to hold a stack of letters and may be shaped and positioned to meet the conditions presented.

At the bottom of the receiver there is a movable or pivoted gate provided at its forward end with fingers which come up against the lower edge of the side of the receiver and which are preferably forwardly inclined at this point, so as to coact with the beveled or otherwise shaped lower edge of the side of the receiver to form a groove-like recess at the bottom of the receiver. This may be broadly called the discharge and is formed in this case by or between the gate and the lower edge of the side of the receiver. Associated with this gate is a feeder which is doubleacting in the sense that it rst acts to move the lower letter forward toward this discharge a slight distance and then continues to act to move this letter forward through the discharge. The first action of the feeder takes place when the gate is closed and forces the bottom letter forward into the groove. If the bottom letter is properly positioned, its forward edge is forced into the groove at the point where the lingers of the gate and the edge of the side of the receiver come together. Associated with the gate and the feeder is a pusher which after the first feed action impinges upon or presses against the lower letter in the pile and pushes the pile of letters along or, in this ease, upwardly in the receiver. The essential action of this device is that it raises or pushes the mass of letters upward and away from the slot, and its peculiar action in this form of the device here illustrated is that it performs this pushing function through the lower letter while permitting the forward feed of such lower letter. It is therefore such a device yas will not interfere with the feed action. This feed action, therefore, continues, and the gate drops down, so as to slightly separate its fingers from the lower edge of the side of the receiver. Under these conditions what was a slot becomes an open slit or discharge-way wide enough to permit the passage of the lower letter, which letter, as explained, is under the control of the feeder and though preferably impinged upon by the pusher is not arrested or affected by such pusher. The result, therefore, is that the lower letter is fed forward and out of the IOO IIO

IIS

receiver into the printing mechanism. lf for any reason the lower letter in thepackage is out of place, so that the first forward feed motion is not sufficient to bring it into the slot or discharge, the pusher will raise not only the general mass of letters, but also the lower letter in this form of my device, and therefore the lower letter as well as the others will be pushed beyond the slotor discharge, and when the fingers of the gate open there will be no letter in position to be fed out, but the feeding mechanism will continue to operate on the lower letter and will bring somewhat varied. I use the term receiver in its broadestsense. The controlled discharge means simply a discharge-way for the letter with the proper control thereof. The gate is simply a convenient term to indicate that there is a device to control or open and close the discharge or cause it to be opened and closed. The feeder is any kind of a device which will feed forward the letter to be discharged at the proper time toward the point at which it is to be discharged. The pusher7 is any sort of a device which tends to push or in this case to raise the mass of letters and to move them so that they do not register with or so that but one of them registers with the discharge-way. The feed-operating devices are such as will tend to make these several elements perform their proper functions.

In the first device here shown these several elements are made to perform a cycle of operations substantially as follows: First, the feeder moves the lower letter toward the discharge and into the slot; second, the pusher acts through the lower letter to push the other letters upward, so that the lower letter is the only letter in the slot; third, the gate opens sufficiently to let the letter pass, and, fourth, the feed continues to act to push the lower letter from beneath the mass of superimposed letters. Of course this cycle of operations could be varied to a considerable extent.

As the letter is fed out of the receiver by the feeding mechanism it passes between two rolls, one of which is preferably stationary and the other movable. I have shown and described rolls. Of course the same result might be accomplished by other mechanism. The real object of these rolls, while they do feed the letters forward,.is to throw the plate nvroller or one part of the printing mechanism down upon the other.

If the two parts of the printing mechanism are together all the time, it is evident that the ink from one will be transferred to the other, so that the letterwhich passes between them will be inked or at least marked on both sides. To obviate this, it is desirable that one part of the printing mechanism, and preferably the platen-roll, should be elevated or removed from the other vpart when in its normal condition. Stated in another way, it should be pressed down upon the printingroll while the printing or cancellation is going forward and at other times should be free from the roll, and hence inoperative with relation to the printing-roll. The two trip-rollers, between which the letter has passed as it issues from the receiver, are organized so as to throw the platen-roller down upon the printing-roller when, and only when, a letter has passed between the two rolls. This,` therefore, is the first action ofthe printing mechanism. Broadly speaking, I have here shown a device for throwing the printing apparatus into action, which device is actuated by the letter to be printed, or, in other words, I have shown the printing-roll and platen-roll separated normally and a device adapted to throw them together when actuated by the letter to be printed or canceled; but letters are of variable thickness, and it is therefore necessary that the platen-roller or the two parts of the printing device should be elastically held, so that they can spread a considerable distance from each other while performing their functions. This is provided for in my device by an arrangement of leversprings and associated parts. This spreading of the platen and printing rolls must, however, be independent of or must not cause the spreading of the first-named rolls. If these latter rolls are spread or separated from each other, the next issuing letter will not be seized by them, and the proper operation of the apparatus will be interfered with. I have therefore created an organization by which as soon as the two trip-rolls are actuated to throw the platen upon the printing-roll they are operated upon so as to be held in contact with each other no matter how great the spread between the platen-roll and the printing-roll, due to the thickness of the letter, may be. The letter fed through the trip-rolls, and which by this action of the trip-rolls has swung the elbow crank-lever and thus forced the platen-roll against the printing-roll, now approaches the platen-roll. At the same time the pin Von the gear-wheel engages the end of the pivoted dog and momentarily disengages the two hooks of the locking mechanism. These will, however, instantly ren gage if this letter is between the trip-rolls, and so the platen-roll remains locked down upon the printing-roll,and the letter is carried between them and fed by them forward for printing or cancellation. If when this action takes place there is no letter between the trip-rolls by reason 0f no letter having been fed from the machine, the two dogs when disengaged will remain so and the platen-roll will remain in its elevated position, free from the printing-roll, until the next action ensues. Suppose, new, the letter is a large and thick one. In passing between the printing and platen rolls it would force the latter upwardly, and unless provision were made therefor it would tend also to force the trip-rolls apart. This, however, is prevented by reason of the fact that the spring J 9 is weaker than the spring F12 and will give and permit the dog to move upwardly until the faces J 8 J7 engage or until the limit of upward motion of the platenroll has been reached before this action will force the trip-rolls apart. Thus even though a heavy letter is being printed the trip-rolls are ready to receive the next letter and to act upon the platen-roll to force it again toward IIO the printing-roll when the other letter has been released. The normal condition of the platen-roll is one ol elevation, as indicated in Fig. l, it being only depressed when a letter is received between the trip-rolls.

This part of the device properly contains the following elements: first, the trip-rolls for assisting the forward feed of the letter and for throwing the platen-roll against the printing-roll; second, a joint support for one triproll and the platen-roll, third, a movable support for the joint support; fourth, a platenlock for locking the platen-roll down upon the printing-roll; fifth, a lock-release for releasing the platen-roll, sixth, a primary pressure device to hold both platen-roll and triproll down in engagement with their associate rolls, and a secondary pressure device to yieldingly hold the platen-roll on the printing roll without retracting the trip roll. These devices are constructed and related as shown, but of course could be very greatly altered, and my particular form is intended only to be, as it were, diagrammatic. As shown, they perform the following cycle of operations: First, the letter is fed forward by the trip-rolls; second, the action of the letter on the trip-roll forces the platen-roll upon the printing-roll; third, the two are lockedtogcther; fourth, this lock is interrupted so as to free the parts if no letter is in position between the trip-rolls, fifth, the trip-rolls and platen-roll are elastieally held toward their associate roll 3 sixth, the platen-roll is permitted to recede from the printing-roll without disturbing the position of the trip-roll.

I have used the term platen-roll broadly to indicate a movable portion of the printing device and not to limit myself to that particular piece as being the one controlled by my mechanism.

The driving-shaft which drives the printing-roll and connected parts is itself driven, as indicated, by hand or power, and the several parts are timed so as to cause their successive operations to take place at the proper relative moment.

rlhe reciprocating separating device, gate, and pusher, for example, are properly timed by a suitable connection with the printing or marking mechanism, so that the separation of the letters is properly timed with relation to the printing device. It will be seen that by this connection the letters will be fed to the printing device regardless of the length of the letters, and the stamp will be properly canceled and the postmark properly placed on each letter once, and only once. The pusher, which of course may be actuated in any desired manner, is adapted to press against the letter in the process of being fed and through it to push the other letters away from the discharge. Vhen the construction of the drawings is used, the part B2 acts as-a stop for all of the letters except the one being fed, and in this construction it may be said that the pusher presses against the letter in process of being fed and through it' pushes the second letter in the series into proper relation with the stop each time the separating device is actuated, so as to prevent the second letter from being separated from the series of letters in the receptacle orletter-receiving part. After the separation of the lower letter has begun the motion of this letter continues without interruption until it passes through the printing device. The rolls F5 and F'l may be called an additional feeding device, for they engage the letter after it is partially separated and feed it toward the printing device. ln the construction herein illustrated, for eX- ample, this additional feeding mechanism comprises two parts adapted to be moved relatively by the letter, one of said parts being mounted upon a movable arm or part which carries one of the printing or marking parts. The spring F12 tends t0 move the pivotal point of the arm F7, which motion is limited by the stop K2, while the springL tends to move said arm about its pivot, and when these springs are properly adj ustedv the roller F5 is forced against the roller F4 when no letter is passing, and the platen-roll is lifted away from the printing-roll, so as to be normally held in an inoperative position.

I claiml. A letter marking or printing device, comprising a marking mechanism, a letter-receiving part adapted to receive a series of letters, a reciprocating separating device for separating the letters so that they may bedelivered singly to the marking mechanism, a gate for said letter-receiving part, adapted to be alternately opened and closed to permit the exposed letter to be fed toward the marking mechanism, and an actuating connection between the marking mechanism and said feeding device and gate.

2. A letter marking or printing device comprisi ng a receptacle adapted to receive a series of letters, a discharge therefor, a reciprocating separating device for separating one letter at a time from the series, a pusher adapted to push the other letters away from the discharge, a marking mechanism to which said letters are fed, and an actuating connection from the driving mechanism of the marking mechanism, to saidseparating device and pusher, whereby the feeding device and pusher are actuated for the purpose of separating one letter from the series each time the marking mechanism reaches a predetermined position.

3. A letter marking or printing device comprising a receptacle adapted to receive a series of letters, a discharge therefor, a separating device for separating one letter at atime from the series, a pusher adapted to push the other letters away from the discharge, a gate associated with the receptacle and adapted to be opened when a letter is ready to be discharged, a marking mechanism to which the letters IOO l'IO

are fed, and an actuating connection between the marking mechanism and said feeding device, pusher and gate.

4. A letter marking or printing device comprising a letter-receiving part adapted to receive a series of letters, a discharge therefor, means for feeding one letter toward the discharge, a pusher adapted to press against the letter in process of being fed and through it to push the other letters away from the discharge, a marking or printing device to which the letters are separately fed and a timing connection between said pusher and the marking or printing device.

5. A letter marking or printing device comprising a letter-receiving part adapted to receive a series of letters, a discharge therefor, a separating device for separating one letter at a time from the series, a pusher adapted t0 press against the letter while it is being separated and through it to push the other letters away from the discharge, a gate associated with the letterreceiving part and adapted to be opened when the letter is ready to be discharged, a marking or printing device to which the letters are fed, and a timing connection between said marking or printing device and said pusher and gate.

6. A letter marking or printing device comprising a letter-receiving part adapted to receive a series of letters in contact with each other, a discharge therefor, a separating device for sepa-rating one letter at a time from the series, a stop associated with said receptacle, a pusher adapted to push the second letter in the series into proper relation with said stop each time said separating device is actuated so as to prevent said second letter from being separated from the series, a marking or printing device to which the letters are separately fed, and a timing connection between the marking or printing device and said separating device and pusher.

7. A letter marking or printing device comprising a printing part, a letter-receiving part adapted to receive a series of letters, a separating device for separating the letters so that they may be delivered singly to the printing part, an additional feeding device to receive the letters after separation, said additional feeding device provided with a part normally in an inoperative position which cooperates with the printing part, and which is actuated by the presence of the letter s0 as to be brought into operative relation with the printing part, and a locking device which holds said parts in their Operative or locked position independent of the letter.

S. A letter marking or printing device comprisin g a printing part, a letter-receiving part adapted to receive a series of letters, a separating device for separating the letters so that they may be delivered singly to the printing part an additional feeding device adapted to receive the letters after separation, said additional feeding' device provided with a part which coperates with the printing part, and which is actuated by the presence of the letter so as te be brought into operative relation with the printing part, a locking device for locking said-parts in their operative position, and a releasing device independent of the letter for intermittently releasin the locking device.

f). A letter marking or printing device comprising two parts between which the letter is received and adapted to be moved relatively by said letter, two cooperative printing or marking parts normally separated, one of said printing or marking parts connected with one of the letter-receiving parts so as to be moved into operative relation with its copera'ting part, by the letter, a locking orholding device associated with said printing or marking part and so positioned as to hold the printing or marking parts in operative relation independent of the letter.

lO. A letter marking or printing d evice comprising two parts between which the letter is received and adapted to be moved relatively by said letter, two cooperating printing or marking parts norm ally separated, one of said printing or marking parts connected with one of the letter-receiving parts so as to be moved into operative relation with its cooperating part by the letter, a locking or holding device associated with said printing or marking part and so positioned as t0 hold the printing or marking parts in operative relation in dependent of the letter and a releasing device independent ofthe letter for intermittently releasing said locking or holding device.

ll. Aletter marking or printing device coniprising two letter -receiving parts between which the letter passes, and adapted to be moved relatively by said letter, two coperating printing or marking parts, a movablymounted arm or part connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking'parts, means for normally holding said arm so that the associated letter-receiving part will be pressed against its coperating part while the associated printing' or marking part will beheld away from its coperating part when no letter is being fed to the marking part, whereby when a letter is inserted between the letter-receiving parts said arm is moved so as to separate the letter-receiving part and move the printing or marking part into proper position with its coperating part, and means for holding said arm in said latter position until the letter has been fed through the printing device.

12. A letter marking or printing device comprisin g two letterreceiving parts between which the letter passes, and adapted to be moved relatively by said letter, two coperating printing or marking parts, a movablymounted arm or part connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking parts, means for normally holding said arm so that the associated letter-re- IIO ceiving part will be pressed against its copi erating part while the associated printing or marking part will be held away l'rom its copating part when no letter is being' fed to the marking part, whereby when a letter is inserted between the letter-receiving parts said arm is moved so as to separate the letter-receiving part and move the printing or marking part into proper position with its coperating part, means Yfor holding said arm in said latter position until the letter has been ted through the printing device, and a releasing device for releasing said arm at predetermined intervals.

13. A letter marking or printing device comprising' two letter-receiving parts, two coperating printing or marking parts, a movablymounted arm or piece connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one oi the printing or marking parts, two elastic devices, associated with said arm and when in action tending to move the arm in opposite directions, a stop limiting the action ot one spring whereby the letter-receiving parts are normally held in contact and the printing and marking parts are normally held out of contact until a letter is received between the letter-receivin g parts.

l-i. A letter marking or printing device comprisin g two letter-receiving parts, two coperating printing or marking parts, a movablymounted arm or piece connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking parts, two elastic devices, associated with said arm and when in action tending to move the arm in opposite directions, an adjustable stop limiting the action of one spring whereby the letter-receiving parts are normally held in contact and the printing and marking parts are normally held out of contact until a letter is received between the letter-receiving parts.

l5. A letter marking orprinting device comprisingtwo letter-receiving parts, two coperating printing or marking parts, an arm or piece connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking parts, a movable piece to which said arm is pivotally connected, a spring tending when active to move the pivotal point of said arm, a stop for limiting this movement, a second spring associated with said arm and tending to move it about its pivotal point whereby the printing or marking' parts are normally held apart and are brought into operative relation when a letter is inserted between the letterreceiving parts.

1G. A letter m arkin g or printing device comprising two letter-receiving parts, two coperating printing or marking parts, an arm or piece connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking parts, a movable piece to which said arm is pivotally connected, aspring tending when active to move the pivotal point of said arm, a stop l'or limiting this movement, a second spring associated with said arm and tendin to move it on its pivotal point whereby the printing or marking parts are normally held apart and are brought into operative relation when a letter Vis inserted between the letterreeeiving parts and a holding or locking device for locking said printnig or marking parts in their operative position until the letter has passed between them.

l?. A letter marking or printing device comprising two letter-receiving parts, two coperating printing or marking parts, an arm or piece connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking parts, a movable piece to which said arm is pivotally connected, a spring tending when active to move the pivotal point of said arm, a stop for limiting this movement, a second spring associated with said arm and tending to move it on its pivotal point whereby the printing or marking parts are normally held apart and are brought into operative relation when a letter is inserted between the letterreceiving parts, a holding or locking device for lockingsaid printing or marking parts in their operative position until the letter has passed between them, said holding or locking device elastically supported so that the printing or marking parts may adjust themselves to correspond with the variations in thickness of the letters passing between them.

l S. A letter marking or printing device comprisin g two letter-receivin g parts, two coperating printing or marking parts, an arm or piece connecting one ot the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking parts, a movable piece to which said arm is pivotally connected, a spring tending when active to move the pivotal point of said arm, a stop for limiting this movement, a second spring associated with said arm and tending to move it on its pivotal point whereby the printing or marking parts are normally held apart and are brought into operative relai-tion when a letter is inserted between the letterreceiving parts, a holding or locking device for locking said printing or marking parts in their operative position until the letter has passed between them, said locking device comprising two parts movably connected together, one of said parts elastically mounted upon some part of the machine.

l 9. A letter marking or printing device comprising two letter-receivin g parts, two coperating printing or marking parts, an arm or piece connecting one of the letter-receiving parts with one of the printing or marking parts, a movable piece to which said arm is pivotally connected, a spring tending when active to move the pivotal point of said arm, a stop for limiting this movement, a second spring associated with said arm and tending to move it on its pivotal point whereby the printing or marking parts are normally held apart and are brought into operative relation when a letter is inserted between the letterreceiving parts, a holding or locking device IOO IIO

for locking' said printingor marking parts in their operative position until the letteil has passed between theunsnid loekin device coinpi'ising two parts inovabiy connected together, one of said parts elastically mounted upon some part of the machine, and an engaging` device associated with the moving part of the machine and adapted to periodically engage one pmt ot' the locking` device and move it to an inoperative position.

JUSTIN KAY TOLES.- \Vitnesses:

FRANCIS W. PARKER, HOMER L. KRAFT. 

